title: Salvage treatment of trigeminal neuralgia by occipital nerve stimulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although most patients suffering from trigeminal neuralgia (TN) respond to medical or surgical treatment, nonresponders remain in very severe painful condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe for the first time a case of severe refractory classical TN treated successfully (follow-up one year) by chronic bilateral occipital nerve stimulation (ONS), because other classic medical and surgical options failed or could not be performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This single case suggests that ONS might be offered to TN patients refractory both to standard drugs and interventions, with a favorable risk/benefit ratio, although its long-term efficacy remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Service de Neurochirurgie, Pole des Neurosciences Cliniques, CHU de Nice, France.
authors.forename: Denys
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fontaine
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bozzolo
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chivoret
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paquis
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lanteri-Minet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Trigeminal neuralgia; facial pain; neuromodulation; occipital nerve stimulation